What colors go with taupe?

Taupe sits between grey and brown, so it gets along with warm and cool partners alike. These five give it what it lacks.

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What to wear with taupe

taupe #9A8B7E
white #FFFFFF

Taupe and white

Neutral base High contrast

White lifts taupe and shows off its greyish warmth, while taupe keeps white from looking stark. The contrast is high but soft-edged: crisp enough for an office, calm enough for a weekend.

When to wear it: A white shirt under a taupe suit or blazer, taupe linen pants with a white tee, white sneakers with a taupe knit dress. It suits spring and summer days, garden lunches and relaxed offices.

What to avoid: On soft, muted coloring, pure white by the face can look harsh beside a color this quiet; an ivory shirt gives the same lift more gently. A yellowed white makes taupe look drab, so keep it fresh.

Suits: Deep Winter

taupe #9A8B7E
black #111111

Taupe and black

Neutral base High contrast

Black gives taupe a dramatic frame and a clear outline, and taupe takes the hardness out of black. The pair looks urban and expensive, darker and moodier than taupe with white.

When to wear it: Fall and winter: a taupe coat over a black turtleneck and pants, a black dress with a taupe cardigan, taupe suede boots with black jeans. It suits evenings, galleries, city offices and travel.

What to avoid: Black near the face can overwhelm soft coloring; keep it in pants and boots and wear taupe on top. A taupe dark enough to merge with black in dim light wastes the contrast.

Suits: Deep Winter

taupe #9A8B7E
dusty rose #C9939B

Taupe and dusty rose

Neutral base Low contrast

Dusty rose and taupe share the same greyed, muted quality, one pink and one brown, so they sit together gently. The rose adds color without the sweetness of a clear pink.

When to wear it: Spring and early fall: a dusty rose blouse with taupe pants, a taupe trench over a dusty rose dress, a rose scarf with a taupe knit. It works for baby showers, brunch and daytime weddings.

What to avoid: With such low contrast the pair can look sleepy, so add a crisp white collar or silver jewelry. Bright pink in rose's place makes taupe look dull rather than soft.

Suits: Soft Summer Cool Summer Light Summer

taupe #9A8B7E
burgundy #800020

Taupe and burgundy

Neutral base Medium contrast

Burgundy's deep red draws out the warmth hidden in taupe, and taupe tones down burgundy's intensity. Together they look rich and refined, with enough depth for the evening.

When to wear it: Late fall through winter: a burgundy sweater with taupe wool pants, a taupe coat with a burgundy scarf, a burgundy dress with taupe heels. It suits holiday parties, dinners and dressier office days.

What to avoid: An orange-red in burgundy's place loses the refinement; keep the red deep and cool. Shiny burgundy satin beside matte taupe wool can look costume-like, so let the fabrics share a sheen.

Suits: Deep Winter Deep Autumn Cool Summer

taupe #9A8B7E
sage green #9CAF88

Taupe and sage green

Neutral base Low contrast

Sage is a greyed green with taupe's muted, earthy quality. The two look like a quiet landscape, and the green gives taupe a hint of color without breaking its softness.

When to wear it: Spring and summer: a sage linen shirt with taupe pants, a taupe dress with a sage cardigan, both colors in a botanical print. It suits garden parties, outdoor weddings and relaxed weekends.

What to avoid: A sharp kelly or emerald in sage's place shouts over taupe; keep the green grey and soft. Add a white or cream piece so the low-contrast pair does not blend into one tone.

Suits: Soft Autumn Soft Summer Light Spring

Which of these flatter you depends on your color season. Find my season →

Colors to keep away from taupe

- lime green #8CD13A
Lime is a sharp, saturated yellow-green; taupe is a muted grey-brown. The gap in saturation makes taupe look dusty and lime look neon, and no color season wears the two together. Give lime white or navy instead, and taupe soft colors.
- grey #808080
Mid grey and taupe sit at nearly the same depth with only a slight difference in warmth, so together they usually look like an accident: the grey turns cold and the taupe looks dirty. Use a much lighter or darker grey, or white.

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Shop labels call it mushroom, mink or stone, but taupe is the color under all those names. The word is French for mole, and the color matches the animal: a mid-depth grey-brown between the warm browns and the cool greys. That in-between temperature is its gift. It softens cool colors, calms warm ones and rarely fights anything muted.

What taupe lacks is contrast and color of its own, so its partners have to bring one or the other. White and black give it edges, dusty rose and sage add quiet color at its own low saturation, and burgundy deepens it for evenings. Worn by the face, it flatters soft, muted coloring most; with that coloring, choose ivory over pure white and keep black for shoes and pants. Clear, bright coloring usually wears taupe better below the waist.

FAQ

Is taupe grey or brown?

Both. Taupe is a brown with grey mixed in, and shades range from warm, slightly pink taupes to cool ones close to grey. That middle position is why it pairs with warm and cool colors alike, and why it often replaces grey in a wardrobe that leans warm.

What color shoes go with a taupe dress?

Taupe shoes make a long, seamless line, and black adds contrast for the evening. Burgundy and dark brown bring warmth, silver or pewter sandals suit a party, and white sneakers keep a taupe knit dress casual. Avoid a tan or camel shoe that almost matches but leans more yellow.

Does taupe go with navy?

Yes. Navy's depth gives taupe contrast, and taupe's soft warmth keeps navy from looking stern. A navy blazer with taupe pants, or a taupe coat over a navy dress, works for the office and evenings alike. Silver jewelry suits the cool balance of the pair.

Is a taupe suit a good choice?

Yes, for spring and summer events and relaxed offices. A taupe suit is softer than grey and dressier than tan. It takes a white or pale blue shirt, or ivory if your coloring is soft, with a burgundy or navy tie and dark brown or burgundy shoes. For a conservative interview, navy or charcoal reads safer.